Multiple combustion cell gaseous fuel burner



Dec' 5 1950 K. A. scHARBAu ETAL MULTIPLE coMBUsToN CELL GAsEoUs FUEL BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 0G11. 20, 1945 VII' F Elllll Dec- 5 1950 K. A. scHARBAu ETAL 2,533,143

MULTIPLE coMBUsToN CELL GAsEoUs FUEL BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1945 Patented Dec. 5., i956 MULTIPLE COMBUSTION CELL GASEOUS FUEL BURNER Kurt A. Scharbau and Albert Stadler, Rockford',- Ill., assgnors to Eclipse Fuel Engineering Com' pany, Rockford, Ill., a'corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,500

3 Claims. (Cl. 158-104) The present invention relates generally to y gaseous fuel burners. More particularly the invention relates to that type of burner which is designed to burn a combustible fuel mixture of air and a high caloric gas, such as propane, f: .butane or natural gas and as its principal components comprises: (l) a horizontally elongated manifold to which the combustible fuel mixture to be burned is supplied under pressure; 2) means on the top portion of the manifold forming a longitudinal series of vertically extending,

spaced apart, cylindrical combustion chambers with the lower ends thereof in registry or alignment with ports in the top portion of the manifold; and (3) circular or disc-like crosswalls which extend transversely across the lower ends of the combustion chambers, have vertically extending holes therein for permitting up-ow of the fuel mixture into the combustion chambers, and have associated therewith centrally disposed, upstanding shanks which terminate adjacent the central portions of the combustion chambers and embody at their upper ends disc-like hole,k

equipped anges for baiiling or deiiecting laterally the jets offuel emanating from the holes in the crosswalls so as to reduce the velocity f thereof prior to passage of the fuel mixture into the upper portions of the combustion chambers where burning of the mixture occurs.

As evidenced by United States Patent No. 1,909,496, granted on May 16, 1933 to Garnett W. McKee, it has heretofore been proposed in connection with a burner of the type under consideration to form the cylindrical combustion chambers by way of separately formed tubular walls, the lower ends of which extend into the ports in the top portion of the manifold and are attached to the manifold by screw thread connections. In practice it has been found that ai gaseous fuel burner of the last mentioned character is subject to the objection that because of the fact that the combustion chambers are formed by separate or individual tubular walls the chambers are spaced apart to such a great extent that when the burner is lighted by directing a pilot or other flame into one of the combustion chambers the flame resulting from combustion of the fuel mixture in the one chamber does not ignite the fuel mixture in the other combustion chambers with the result that there an escape of unburned fuel into the surrounding atmosphere with the attendant possibility that such fuel will ignite with explosive violence. Another objection to a gaseous fuel burner like that disclosed in they aforementioned 2 McKee patent is that if the separate or individual tubular walls which form or dene the com-,- bustion chambers and are attached to the top portion of the manifold by screw thread connections are not all screwed into the manifold to the same extent the combustion chambers are disposed at different levels and hence there il U no uniformity of the flames resulting from come bustion of the fuel mixture in the combustion chambers.

-One object of the instant invention is to provide a gaseous fuel burner of the type and character under consideration which is an improvement upon, and eliminates the defects of, prev viouslydesigned burners of like character and is characterized by the fact that the combustion chambers on top of the manifold instead of being formed by means of separate tubular wells, are formed in a one-piece body which fits flatly against the ytop surface of the manifold and is clamped in place by bolts. By forming the com bustion chambers in a one-piece body Y such chambers may be disposed in such closely spaced apartrelation that in connection with lighting of the burner in the conventional manner the iiameV -resulting from combustion of theA fuel mixture in the combustion chamber into whichthe ame of the pilot light is directed positively and substantially instantaneously ignites the fuel mixture in the adjacent combustion chambers. In addition the combustion chambers'arel all disposed at precisely equal distances from the marginal portions of the circular or disc.- like hole equipped crosswalls are seated in theA annular groovesl and are clamped against the portions of the manifold that denne the upper ends of the manifold ports. c

Another object of the invention is to provide a burner of the type and character under con.; sideration in which the portions of the one-piece body that are between the upper ends vof the com. bustion chambers have `notches therein which cross connect or establish communicationA between Ithe upper ends ofthe combustion chamg;

the invention is to provide;

bers and serve materially to facilitate lighting of the burner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gaseous fuel burner which is generally of new and improved construction and is characterized by the fact that it is extremely eiilcient in operation and may be produced and serviced at "a low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present gaseous fuel burner will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter :set forth and are more particularly dened by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and Yform 1a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure Y1 Fis a perspective of l'a fgaseou's fuel burner embodying one form of the invent-.1511;

4IEigure 2 is an enlarged vertical .longitudinal section showing detail the construction land design of the one-piece body in which the Elongitudinal series 'of spaced apart combustion chamb'ers are formed, and illustrating the man-ner in which 'the hole equipped `cr-ossw-alls lare secured `place adjacent the lower en'ds of the combustion chambers;

Figure 3 is la vertical transverse section vtaken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and illustrating in detail the cross Isectional design of the body and manifold 'of the burner;

-Figure 4 'is a plan view of one of the dise-like hole equippedflanges which are connected to the upper lends of the upstanding .'shanlts on lthe crsswalls vand serve so 5to -baflle and ldeii'ect the jets of gaseous fuel emanating from the vholes in the crosswalls as -to `reduce t-he velocity thereoi' prior to passage of the `fuel mixture into the upper portions of the combustion chambers;

Figure 5 lis Ia plan view of `one of the hole equipped icrosswalls kat the lower ends 1Vof the icemlistion chambers;

Figure 6 `is a perspective Iof :a xgaseous fuel burner 'which 'embodies 'another form y `of the -in'- vention |and is -so :designed and constructed that it Lmay be `serial-ly connected to one Ior xmore like burners;

lFlgu-re '7 is a pla-n view showing the burner of Figure 4-6 :in connected relation with a like 'burner; and

Figure 8 is 4a vertical :tra-n'swine -iseotioniof the burner `ci' Figure 6.

The burner which is shown in Figures 1 to f5, nclusive, of 4the Vdrawings constitutes one fform orfembodiment of the invention. is designed to burn a combustible fuel mixture of air and any high caloric gas and comprises as its principal components or vparts la manifold I0, v:a :body fl'l, and fa vgrouper set of burner `tips AP2. It is -co'ntemplated that `'the burner will bedisp'osed in the fire box 'of 'a heating apparatus, such, 'for 'example, as a furnace or boiler.

yThe manifold "ill "is horizontally elongated and has at one end thereof an internally threaded circular hole lI3 into which 'theoutletlend'of a pipe (not shown) foi` supplying the 'fuel mixturefinto the manifold under'pressure. As shown in thedr'a'win'gs the manifold Hlcompisesa'btto'm wall i4, a pairofside 4walls f5, atop wall SIii, and an Yend wall 11 which together denne elongated chamber i8 for the fuel mixture.

The top wall l5 of the manifold has' a flat upper surface I9 and embodies a longitudinal series of spaced apart, circular outlet ports 20. The latter communicate with the chamber I8 and pei'- mit the fuel mixture to flow upwards from the chamber. The end wall El serves as a closure for the other end of the manifold, i. e.; the end that is opposite the internally threaded hole I3 for the outlet or discharge end of the pipe for vsupplying the fuel mixture into the chamber I8.

The body ll rests on the top of the manifold Hl and is horizontally elongated. It is shaped conformably to the manifold and has a at bottom surface 2l which rests flatly on the flat upper surface l@ of the top wall i6 of the manifold. Preferably the body il is formed of cast metal. Bolts 22 serve releasably to secure the body in connected relation with the manifold. As shown in Figure l, these bolts are arranged so that the heads thereof are at the top. The Shanks of the -bolts extend downwards through cylindrical holes 4213 in the body `finto internally threaded holes 42t in the top wall l of the manifold iii. The body il of the burner embodies a longitudinal series of vertically extending spaced apart cylindrical `combustion chambers 25 and these correspond in diameter and number to the outlet ports 2e and are in registry with the latter., Las shown in Figures '2 and 3. In connection use or operation of the burner the fuel `mixture which is 4de. livered under `pressure into the chamber U3 riiovvs upwards into the combustion vchambers '25 via the outlet .por-ts 2t. Combustion of the fuel mixture occurs in the upper portions of the combustion chambers. VIV'll-he portions of the lbody :l that define the low-er `ends or extremities fof the combustion chambers 25 have annular :grooves 2-5 formed therein. 'These grooves are of :greater diameter than, land are fconcentricaly positioned with respect to, the combustion chambers. They open onto the a/t 'bottom :surface of the body TH and have the upper ends thereof defi-ned by v'fiat annular shoulders 21. The (combustion chambers are equid-istantly spaced `apart comparatively small 4distances in order to assure a positive and 'substantially linstant'an'eou-s lighting of the fuel mixture in the combustion chambers inconnection witli'li'ghting ofthe burner as hereinafter described. The lupper surface of the bod-y H flat and is in 'true parallel 'relation lwith the flat bottom vvsurface 2L 4 The ltips 'l2 of the burner y'correspond in number to, and are associated respectively with, `the combustion chambers. They serve vto baffle 'or diffuse, and also to reduce the velocity of, the fuel mixture in connection with 11p-'flow thereof into the `combustion chambers. As shown in Figures :2 and 3 of the drawings, the "tips "ar'e in the 'form of one-piece units. They are preferably formed 'of machined steel v'or 'other suitable material and 'consist of 'circular `or ldic-like -'crosswalls 28, centrally c'lisposed upsta'nding 'shariks 29, and disc-like flanges l3i) on the upper ends of `the shankS. The c'rosswalls 28 'of the 'tips 4t 2 extend horizontally across the lower ends 'of the combustion 'chambers 25 land vhave a plurality of spaced apart, 'vertically extending -hol'es 'SEI for permitting the fuel mixture "to flow upwards into the lower "ends Vof the v'combustion Vcl'iarnbers in stream or jet'fo'rm. The margins'o'f tne'crosswalls fit snugly within'th'e annular grooves 25 `ad*- jacent the :lower ends 'of =the 4'combustion charm bers. The-y are theisame in height-as thegro'ove's and are clamped Aagainst 'fthe sulojacent portions th"annular-:downwardly facing shoulders '21,

.central portions of the combustion chambers.

The disc-like flanges 36 of the tips l2 are formed integrally with the upper ends of the shanks.

They are of slightly less diameterthan the cyr' lindrical combustion Achambers 25, and are dis,- posed in concentric y relation with they latter. vertically extending ho1es 32 are formed. ,n-the disc-like flanges 3i] and these holesare vertically or laterally offset Awith respect to the holes 3| in the crosswalls 28 and have a total cross sectional area either equal to, or greater than, the In connec- I cross sectional area of the holes 3i. tion with operation of the burner the streams or iets of the fuel mixture emanating from the holes 3| in the crosswalls 28 strike against the bottom faces of the flanges 3d and are deflected outwards. A portion of the fuel mixture flows upwards through the holes 32 in the anges 33 and the balance flows upwards through the annular spaces between the flanges and the opposite portionslof the combustion chambers and enters the upper portions of the combustion chambers in the form of annular streams. The flanges 30, due to the baiiiing or deilecting action thereof, so reduce the velocity of the fuel mixture that the latter burns within the upper portions of the combustion chambers.

The burner is lighted or ignited by directing a pilot light or other flame into the upper end of one of the end combustion chambers while the gaseous fuel mixture to be burned is being supplied into the chamber i3 in the manifold lil. As soon as the fuel mixture in the one combustion chamber ignites the flame resulting from combustion ignites the fuel mixture in the cornbustion chamber which is next to the one combustion chamber, and the flame resulting from combustion ignites the fuel mixture in the next combustion chamber, and so on. In order materially to facilitate lighting of the burner the portions of the body Il that are between the upper ends of the combustion chambers have notches 33 formed therein. These notches cross connect or establish direct communication between the upper ends of the combustion chambers. The portions of the body that define the end corners of the bottoms of the notches 33 are rounded as at 34 in order that the portions of the flames that are directed past the notches are ncaused to be laterally deflected into the notches in order materially to facilitate lighting of the burner, it being well known that a fluid when directed against a curved surface will follow such surface.

The burner of Figures l to 5, inclusive, is highly elcient in operation and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. By having the combustion chambers formed in a one-piece body instead of by separate tubular walls the chambers may be disposed in such closely spaced apart relation that in connection with lighting of the burner in a standard or conventional manner the flame resulting from combustion of the fuel mixture in the end combustion chamber into which the flame of the pilot light is directed positively and substantially instantaneously ig- 'nites the fuel mixture in the adjacentgcombus' tion chambers. :Another advantage in having the'combustionchambers in a one-piece body is that they are alldisposed at precisely equal disf tancesfrom the manifold and hence there is uni- .formity of elevation of the flames resulting lfrom combustion of the fuel mixture in the combusf tion chambers..v In the eventrthat it is neces,- saryto replace the tips I2 it is only necessary to remove the bolts 22 inl-,order to free the onepiecebody Il from the. Ymanifold Id. Asjsoon .as the body is released or removed from the manifold the. tips may be removed merelyA by forcing them downwards out of the lower portions of the combustion chambers. Y 1

.-'I'hemburner which is shown in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, is like the gaseous fuel burner of Fgures 1 ,tov 5, inclusive, except that it is designed and adapted to be connected in series withlike burners. It comprises a tubular open ended manifold 35, a one-piece body 36 and tips 31. The manifold `v35 has a longitudinal series of outlet ports 38 in its top-wall and embodies at its ends integral laterally. extending flanges 39. Such flanges have horizontallyv extending holes l0 ,for attaching bolts lil. In Figure 7 of the drawings the burner is shown or illustrated as having .one end of its manifold attached orconnected to a nipple 42.v The latter is adapted toreceive the fuel rnixture` to be burned from a supply pipe (not shown) .and-has lat its discharge or outlet i end a pair of laterally extending flanges 43 which are inabutment with, and are bolted to, the late erally extending flanges 39 on the one end of the manifold. The other end of the manifold 35 is shown as being in connected relation with one end of the manifold of a like burner. The laterally extending flanges 39 and the attaching bolts 4l permit the manifold 35 to be connected in series form with one or more like burners. The body 36 and the tips 31 of the burner of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, are respectively the same as the body Il and the tips I2 of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. The burner of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, functions in the same manner as the burner of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and is characterized by the fact that the manifold thereof, due to the flanges at the ends, may be connected in series form with the manifolds of like burners.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A burner comprising a manifold embodying a closed bottom portion, provided with means for supplying it with a mixture of air and gas under pressure and having in the top portion thereof a plurality of spaced apart circular outlet ports for the mixture, a one-piece body connected to and overlying the top portion of the manifold, having formed therein a. plurality of spaced apart vertically extending cylindrical combustion chambers corresponding in number and diameter to, and in registry with, the outlet ports, and embodying in its bottom annular grooves extending around the lower ends of the combustion chambers, and a plurality of disc-like crosswalls extending across said lower ends of the combustion chambers, having the margins thereof fitting snugly in the annular grooves and resting on the top Vportion of the manifold, and provided with baies for causing the mixture to said com: bustion chambers in stream form.

2. A burner comprising a horizontally clon, gated tubedike manifold embodying a closed bot'.- tom portion, provided at one end thereof with means for supplying it with a mixture of ail. and gas under pressure and having a flat top Wall with a. longitudinal series of equidistantly spaced cire cular outlet ports for the mixture, a horizontally elongated body with a, lflat bottom surface, ex,- tending longitudinally of, and resting on, the ton Wall of the manifold, having formed therein a longitudinal series of equid-istantly spacedvver tically extending `cylindrical combustion cham!- bers corresponding in number and diameter to, and in registry with, said outlet ports, vand embodying in its flat bottom surface annular grooves extending around the lower ends of the combus tion chambers, and a pluralityef horizontal disc@ like Grossi/Valls` extending across said lower ends of the combustion chambers, having the margins thereof fitting snugly within the grooves and res-t-P ing on the top wall of the manifold, and provided with vertical holes for causing the mixture to 'enter the combustion chambers `from the outlet por-ts in stream form.

3. A burner comprising a one-.piece horizon,- tall-y `elongated manifold provided with means for supplying it with a gaseous fuel mixture under pressure and having in the top portion thereof a plurality of closely spaced vertically extending individual outlet ports for .the mixture, a one Apiece horizontally elongated body resting on, and

@emitted to, the top portion o! the lmanifold so that it extends longitudinally oi said manifold and .over-lies said outlet ports, embodying a lon--- gitudinal `series of closely spaced vertically ear-.-V tending open top combustion chambers corref spending in numbeie to, and in registry with, said outlet ports, and having in the top portions there4 of between the upper ends of the combustion chambers single longitudinally extending notches for cross connecting and establishing direct communication between said upper ends of the combustion chambers, and a plurality of horizontal `crosswvalls extending across said lower portions of the combustion chambers and provided with ver-` tical holes for causing the mixture to enter said combustion chambers in stream form.

KURT A. SCHARBAU. ALBERT STADLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record vin the file of; this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hess Jan. 9, 1945 

